Vänsjö kraftmuseum och kvarnmuseum
Two small museums in the village of Vänsjö: a hydroelectric power station from 1918 and a skvaltkvarn (simple water mill) from the 1700s, with a water-powered grindstone nearby.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In Vänsjö in eastern Härjedalen there is a skvaltkvarn from the 1700s and a hydroelectric power station from 1918. The mill and the power station are now museums.
The mill museum shows a skvaltkvarn that was renovated in the late 20th century. The skvaltkvarn is the simplest form of water mill: the water wheel lies horizontally in the water and is connected to the millstones via a vertical drive shaft, and the mill house lies directly above the water wheel. Therefore such mills could only be built in small watercourses and had a small capacity, and the Vänsjö mill grinds at most about five kilos of flour per hour. At the end of the 1700s there were about twenty skvaltkvarnar in Hogdal parish. The mill is usually in operation for one week a year, in connection with the spring flood, and then freshly ground flour may be available to buy.
The power museum shows a hydroelectric power station from 1918 that produced direct current (likström) for the farms in the village, mostly for lighting. When the power station became obsolete it was to be demolished, but it was renovated by volunteers instead. It is in usable condition and is demonstrated on certain occasions. Next to the museums there is also a water-powered grindstone (vattenslip), a grindstone driven by a water wheel.
Highlights
- Hydroelectric power station from 1918 in usable condition
- Skvaltkvarn from the 1700s that grinds flour one week a year
- Water-powered grindstone next to the museums
Permanent exhibitions
- Kraftmuseet – Hydroelectric power station from 1918 that supplied the farms of the village with direct current, renovated by volunteers.
- Kvarnmuseet – Skvaltkvarn from the 1700s, renovated in the late 20th century, and a water-powered grindstone.
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked in advance. |
